1. Chapter 17 Biodiversity

2. Biodiversity Biodiversity is the same as biological diversity Biodiversity is the same as biological diversity Species diversity- Species diversity- Genetic diversity- Genetic diversity- Ecosystem diversity- Ecosystem diversity-

3. Ecosystem services of biodiversity Examples: Examples:1.2.3.4. Genetic engineering- Genetic engineering- Broad genetic base- Broad genetic base-

4. Biodiversity Maintains genetic reserves Maintains genetic reserves Source of food, medicine & industrial goods Source of food, medicine & industrial goods Aesthetic & spiritual value Aesthetic & spiritual value

5. Extinction Extinction- Extinction- Background extinction- Background extinction- Mass extinction- Mass extinction- Today, species are going extinct at ~ 100x the natural beginning extinction rate Today, species are going extinct at ~ 100x the natural beginning extinction rate

6. Endangered species Endangered species Endangered species Threatened Threatened

7. Endangered Species Cont. Characteristics of endangered species Characteristics of endangered species 1. 1. 2. 2. 3. 3. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. 6.

8. What leads to endangerment (cont) High trophic level feeders High trophic level feeders Specialized niche Specialized niche Low population density Low population density Interference with human activity Interference with human activity Large size puts a species at risk Large size puts a species at risk

9. Endangered Species Cont. Endemic- Endemic- Habitat Fragmentation- Habitat Fragmentation-

10. Decline in biodiversity States with biggest decline in biodiversity: States with biggest decline in biodiversity: World-wide places with biggest decline in biodiversity is ____________ (1% is being cleared or severely degraded each year) World-wide places with biggest decline in biodiversity is ____________ (1% is being cleared or severely degraded each year) Human causes of biodiversity loss Human causes of biodiversity loss Adaptive radiation- Adaptive radiation-

11. Endangered Species http://www.redlist.org/info/gallery2004 http://www.redlist.org/info/gallery2004 http://www.redlist.org/info/gallery2004

12. Species Extinction Scientists estimate that there are somewhere between ______ species of living things on earth. So far we have classified about 3 million of those. Scientists estimate that there are somewhere between ______ species of living things on earth. So far we have classified about 3 million of those. Humans may cause up to __% of the earth’s species to become extinct by the year 2030. Humans may cause up to __% of the earth’s species to become extinct by the year 2030. If we assume there are __ million species on earth and we lose __% of them, then _ million species will be lost by 2030. If we assume there are __ million species on earth and we lose __% of them, then _ million species will be lost by 2030. That is a loss of over ___ species a day or __ per hour. That is a loss of over ___ species a day or __ per hour.

13. Threat to biodiversity Greatest Threat to biodiversity = habitat loss 1. Total agriculture occupies __% of total Earth’s land area (excluding Antarctica) 2. Biotic pollution-

14. Threat to biodiversity Cont. 3. Pollution 4. Over exploitation (over use)

15. Over use of species Over use of species Over use of species Over hunted (unregulated hunting) Over hunted (unregulated hunting) E.g. E.g. Illegal hunting (poaching) Illegal hunting (poaching) Commercial harvest- collection of a live organism from nature Commercial harvest- collection of a live organism from nature Example - Example - Commercial extinction- hunting a species until the population drops & it’s no longer profitable to harvest Commercial extinction- hunting a species until the population drops & it’s no longer profitable to harvest

16. Sentinel Species Bell weather species (sentinel species) Bell weather species (sentinel species) Amphibians are often sentinel species as they are very sensitive to environment changes Amphibians are often sentinel species as they are very sensitive to environment changes

17. Conservation Conservation biology- Conservation biology- In-situ conservation – In-situ conservation – Ex-situ conservation- Ex-situ conservation-

18. Prob. w/ Protecting biodiversity w/ habitat Protected areas often have multiple uses or are privately owned Protected areas often have multiple uses or are privately owned Not always effective in preserving biodiversity Not always effective in preserving biodiversity Most are located in least habitable areas (e.g. deserts or high mountain areas) Most are located in least habitable areas (e.g. deserts or high mountain areas)

19. Restoration Ecology Principles of ecology are used to return a degraded environment as close as possible to us former state Principles of ecology are used to return a degraded environment as close as possible to us former state Cons - Cons - Pros - Pros -

20. Biodiversity maintained by man through: Artificial insemination- Artificial insemination- Embryo transfer- Embryo transfer- Seed banks- Seed banks-

21. Conservation of Organisms Champions preservation Champions preservation 2 biggies 2 biggies World Wildlife Fund (WWF) World Wildlife Fund (WWF) World Conservation Union World Conservation Union International Union for Conservation of Nature & National Resources (IUCN) International Union for Conservation of Nature & National Resources (IUCN)

22. Conservation of Organisms Endangered Species Act-1973 Endangered Species Act-1973 Provides legal protection to listed species Provides legal protection to listed species Requires FWS to select critical habitats & design a detailed recovery plan for each species. Requires FWS to select critical habitats & design a detailed recovery plan for each species. Does not provide compensation to private property owners for financial loss because they cannot develop their property Does not provide compensation to private property owners for financial loss because they cannot develop their property 90% of endangered species live on private lands. 90% of endangered species live on private lands. Key counter: law is geared more to saving a few popular or unique species rather than larger, less glamorous species Key counter: law is geared more to saving a few popular or unique species rather than larger, less glamorous species

23. Habitat Conservation Plans Allowed under 1982 amendment to ESA Allowed under 1982 amendment to ESA Allows taking of rare species if it does not threaten the survival or recovery of the species Allows taking of rare species if it does not threaten the survival or recovery of the species

24. Biological Resources Division (part of Dept. of Interior) Mission is to provide info & technologies to manage & conserve biological resources on federal lands. Mission is to provide info & technologies to manage & conserve biological resources on federal lands. World Conservation Strategy- plan designed to conserve biological resources worldwide World Conservation Strategy- plan designed to conserve biological resources worldwide

25. Biological Resources Division (part of Dept. of Interior) Cont Wildlife Management- applied field of conservation biology that focuses on continued productivity of plants & animals Wildlife Management- applied field of conservation biology that focuses on continued productivity of plants & animals Bioaccumulation- increase/build up of chem. concentration in the bodies of animals & plants Bioaccumulation- increase/build up of chem. concentration in the bodies of animals & plants

26. What can we do? Increase public awareness Increase public awareness Support research Support research Support establishment of Int’l system of parks Support establishment of Int’l system of parks Control pollution Control pollution Provide incentives to encourage preservation of ecological resources (e.g. ecotourism, fees for genetic material) Provide incentives to encourage preservation of ecological resources (e.g. ecotourism, fees for genetic material)